Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Still no news- Random update.. forced

Hey Everyone,

So.. i've been getting pestered to post something and update a bit, so here i am.
Still no news. It's been approx 1 week and a half.. 2 weeks on Friday. I'm secretly hoping we find out on Friday, but for Kate's sake i hope we don't. Every time i see that i have a new e-mail on my blackberry or get a phone call either on my cell or my house phone i get really anxious and scared and think it might be Kristen.
I'm done over analyzing my anwsers.. cause i know there's just no point anymore. Which is good in a way because i'm not stressing as much about my interview, instead i'm stressing over the result. So i've been doing some thinking and it's just because i'm so sick of being at home and living in this city.. i want to be on an adventure in late 2011 or early 2012. So i've been thinking of other back up plan ideas. There's three i came up with. Australia, Disney Cruise Line, or going to school in Ottawa. I'm undecided what would be the best choice. Really.. i know i need to get back to school. There's this little voice in my head saying "go back go back" but.. i just feel like i need to travel a little more, see more of the world. I have a feeling if i go back to school.. i'll be so tied down with commitments that i wont be able to go to Australia or something like that. Also, my old roommate, Michelle has agreed to Australia if we both don't get it. I'm so torn. There was a few days where i actually convinced myself it would be a good thing to not get the CRP, but im straight back to where i was 2 weeks ago.

So maybe you're interested in what i'm doing to keep myself busy and keep my mind off of Disney? Well.. i'm working out.. LOTS. I'm trying to run Thetis Lake or Elk Lake a few times a week. I've also for the first time giving something up for Lent. I've always wanted to do it, but forgot about it until it was too late. I remember my manager gave up beer or something last year, and it was funny watching her. I had a bunch of ideas.. and eventually one of my friends said i should give up going out for meals. I'm horrible at it.. i always go out for meals.. whether it be dinner, lunch.. a little snack at midnight with my sister after i pick her up.. and who doesn't like 2am Denny's? But alas, it needs to stop.. and this is the perfect way to kick start it. I've been working out lots though, which is really great. It kills a lot of time, and i'm seeing improvements already, which is always great! Umm other then that, i don't have a job (Seriously.. if you know anyone in Victoria HIRING.. LET ME KNOW!!) I'm watching a lot of Criminal Minds.. which is always good.. yet makes it a little scary to live life. LOL.. and yeah that's really it. I don't lead an exciting life. I skype a lot.. i work out at home a lot.. i've been going to Vancouver a lot latley. i don't know!! lol

Right.. so Vancouver, i went there to visit my cousins little precious baby! She was only a week and a half old when we saw her. Two weeks today actually! She's so adorable. I actually left Vancouver with the mind set of wanting to have a baby. Let's just say it's probably a good thing i'm single. haha It was really nice seeing all my family on the mainland again. I haven't seen any of them since my half way mark at Disney when i went home for Thanksgiving. That took up a whole day.. haha.. That's really it. I worked my butt off at the gym tonight, but left early cause i have an interview tomorrow and wanted to be home early enough to do a tad bit of research on the company and get a decent nights sleep. Fingers crossed! I need an income!
On a really random side note.. i was watching American Idol tonight, and there's a true country singer on there (and i would love to say i think he's the cutest kid in the world, but he's like 16 or 17 and i'd like to not be classified at a ped) and they got to choose their idols in singing and sing to one of their songs. I was hoping and hoping and hoping that he'd pick Garth Brooks.. he was second to last and choose Garth Brooks!! It was awesome!!! I didn't really care for his choice considering Garth is famous for soo many other songs.. but it was great, i sang along to ever word and made me happy! I miss having someone to share my love of Garth Brooks with!! *sigh* Eddd....... Grrr!

So last thing before i go. It would be awesome if you left a comment on what you think i should do as a back up.. Australia, DCL or should i go to school in Ottawa? I'll leave you with this video.. it's probably what most of us applicants are feeling like right now.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnWDWCP#p/u/47/ypRvicZiJ3s

Ohh and i highly recommend his blogs. I found it today from Kate and have only made it to vlog 13/40 or something like that. Thinking for sure if i get in that i might do something similar.. so yeah we'll see!
Talk to you folks later.. time for some scary Criminal Minds before bed.

Sam
xox

*Shout Out to Kate, because you're awesome*

Sunday, February 27, 2011

A sign?? - Forgotten..

Hey Everyonee!!

So.. i tried writing this when i was in the car waiting for Brianna to get off work, but it wouldn't let me type anything.. so i gave up. So here's attempt #2!

So i thought these two things were funny.. just hours after my interview i was on the ferry home and i went up to the top floor to just pass out.. and High School Musical 2 was playing on the TV. I thought wow that's really cool!! yay Disney! And then when i got home, my sister wanted to get something from the store, so i drove her.. and on are way back i heard something on the radio. It was on CFAX which i rarley listen too.. it's like what my aunt listens to all the time and didn't change it.. and i heard the word Epcot.. so i turned it up and they were talking about his time at Epcot and mentioned eating at Le Cellier and how great the service was.. but he didn't really enjoy EPCOT, he thought it was on the boring side. I just thought.. wow.. maybe it's a sign. Made me happy!

There was something else i wanted to mention that i forgot, but i can't remember now. This waiting is driving me crazy. I'm going through all the emotions i did last time. Thinking.. will i hold a grudge against Disney? Will i put my life on hold for Disney? Should i just forget about it? All these thoughts that i remember thinking 3 years ago. One of my best friends from Ontario that i went to school with is flying in tomorrow is here for 10 days so that should help take my mind off of everything.. i'm also going to Vancouver this weekend to visit my second cousin? My cousin Nicky just had a baby last Wednesday?? Khloe Shayanne Taylor. She's so adorable and i can't wait to meet her!! So it should take what.. i week or two off? yay! haha
Okay.. just wanted to share my thoughts.

Take Caree,
Sam

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Face 2 Face Interview

Hey Everyonee!

Okay so yesterday was the big Face to Face Interview for the Disney Cultural Rep Program.
I'm going to try my best to stay positive while i explain it.. but i didn't leave feeling good.

My interview was in Vancouver, British Columbia.. i had to take Ferry over, which was really fun because i just LOVE bc ferries. I stayed at the Howard Johnson on Granville St with Kate which was really fun! We met up around 5ish after me getting completely lost in Downtown Vancouver. We checked in, dropped are luggage off, waited for Bree to get to the hotel and made are way to Red Robins for the dinner with all the other applicants. I don't want to say disappointed.. but i expected the dinner to be more lively. (compared to what i heard the one was when i last applied) Not a lot of people showed up, but there was six of us i think? Myself, Kate, Bree, Jodey, Rodi, and Shannon. They were all super nice. It was nice hearing their perspectives and such and learning about them. You never know right.. i mean we could all be best friends down there.. right? It was a lot of fun and we all made are way back to are hotels.
Kate and i went back to are room and spent hours chatting. Every time we thought about going to bed we'd say we would and then we'd starting chatting about something else. It was really nice staying with her and it eased my nerves quite a lot. I didn't sleep much if at all over night. I was really stressed about the interview and kept going over questions in my head.
We woke up the next morning.. got ready and took a cab with Bree over to The Sutton Place Hotel.. where the interview was being held. We gathered and sat down in the room for are 9am presentation.
This part was probably my favorite. Watching the video with perky Valerie was nice. Seeing the pavilion and just being surrounded by people that work for Disney and understand what it's like to be a Disney Cast Member.. i loved it. The two recruiters were Jeni and Shandon. Jeni was really nice, she was the official International Recruiter and Shandon was a Food & Beverage manager in the Norway Pavilion. I didn't get a chance to speak with him.. but seemed really nice and good manager. And of course Kristen from Yummy Jobs was there. It was nice to see her as well.. just another familiar face. Kristen called out are interview times and i was lucky enough to get the very last interview slot, which meant i had to wait until about 6 hours for my interview. After a bunch of us gathered in the lobby and proceeded to Starbucks. There was Me, Kate, Bree, Rodi, Jodey, Shannon, Tricia, and Danika. We were at Starbucks for what had to be at least 2 hours.. maybe not that long. But we got to know each other more and more. I found out Tricia is from Victoria. Well she's from Vancouver.. but lived in Victoria. It was nice to see another person from the island! :) Actually to be honest.. it was nice spending time with people that weren't from ONTARIO! lol.. i kept forgetting that most people were from Vancouver somewhere.
Rodi left for her interview.. and we all decided to go out for lunch at Joey's Burrard?? i think. It was a really nice restaurant.. and it just so happened Tommy Europe was eating there too. He's the personal trainer on Buldging Brides and the Last 10lbs. I've seen him a few times. It was nice seeing a celebrity again. haha.. Kate and Bree really wanted to talk to him and get a picture.. so finally as he was leaving Bree called him over and Kate got a picture with him.
After lunch we headed back to The Sutton Place Hotel and started mentally preparing for the interview. One by one everyone went.. until it was my turn. I was really nervous and spent lots of time preparing.
Finally i was called in.. i interviewed with Jeni. It started out well. We chatted a bit before.. i asked her about her doing the recruiting and which countries she did it for and how long, etc.. kind of to break the ice. Then she confirmed/assumed i had been before (done the program) and she began asking questions. I'm going to try and remember them all now.
First one she asked was why i wanted to go back to Disney, she asked me about my record card and how it looked, she asked me about a time that there was an upset/unhappy guest and how i used exceptional guest service to compensate or turn the situation around. She really liked my answer which is really good. And she started asking a question about me working at Le Cellier and she was saying something like ohh and you were a server.. and had to tell her i wasn't and why i choose to not go into service. She asked me what signature dining meant to me and how i could work in it.. like how i thought i could make a difference in service under signature dining. She also asked why i would i be a better choice on top of someone who's never down the program before. I stressed a lot through out it that i wanted to go into service, but i loved podium so much and that's why i stayed. I also stressed that i wanted to go into service this time.. and how much i loved Disney.
I don't know..so that was it. I left feeling really bad about it.. and today i feel a little better. I'm not sure on what will happen, and we'll have to wait 3-4 weeks to find out. I feel like i might be held back because i didn't serve and from my understanding.. they're looking for strong servers for Le Cellier.. so we shall see. I know i have the potential to be a great server because i have that drive and passion.. but did i show it is the questions. haha
Over all.. going to Vancouver was a blast.. and it was just nice seeing a few familiar faces.. like Kate, Kim and Courtney. The next weeks will go by soo slowly!! Just got to stay positive and hope for the best.
Alright i guess that is it.
As soon as i hear i will post on here. :) Everyone cross your fingers for me to get a phone call!!

p.s- Kate (cause i know you'll read this) Thanks for being there for me when i was in town and being such a great friend!! I don't know what i would have done with out you!!

Take Caree
Sam

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Interview in two weeks

Hey Everyonee!!

So, guess what? My Disney interview is coming up in less then two weeks. Like 13 days to be exact.. haha i'm starting to become more and more nervous about it. I think it's just becoming more real and the reality of me not getting in is becoming real too. Not that i don't have confidence in myself.. but there's a chance, and until now.. i don't think i really realized it.
I'm not sure what i'm more excited about though.. seeing all my Disney friends.. and by friends i think i really just mean Kate. It will be nice to see Courtney and Kim though.. so to see a familiar face that i haven't seen in nearly 11 months. It will also be exciting meeting all those new people who've never done it before. I'm also excited to have the interview over and done with.. and to just be surrounded by Disney all over again. I LOVE the presentation they give.. (even if i can't stand VALERIE!!!!). I will really nice to see Disney Cast Members.. or i guess manager rather. To just see that name tag on someone.. soo good!!

We got another e-mail from Kristen early last week explaining or i guess apologizing about the length of time this process is taking. They've still yet to give us a location in are cities. Personally, i don't understand why it's taking this long. You'd think as soon as they know which date is in each city they would knew where it is. Unless they're just hoping to have somewhere booked on the day?? Who knows. She explained it's Disney that's taking their sweet time booking everything. Fingers crossed we hear on Monday or early next week. I'll probably start prepping
for the interview at the end of next week. Studying the questions and possible questions.. trying to remember little facts about the company and the parks, movies, etc. Should go great!
As long as i remember everything this time.. like a specific black pen and my resume. LOL
I finally got my W2 this week, and just need to file my taxes. Actually i did.. but did it on a payment version, so i have to do it all over again.. but oh well.. just get it in the post and hopefully in 4-6 weeks i'll get a nice big fat check.

Well that's it for now.
Abiento (sp?)

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Interview Date!!

Hey Everyonee!!

So i've been getting bugged by some people to update my blog.. and i've been wanting to for a few days too.. so here i am! So early last week i got two e-mail from Kristen. First one was saying the interviews would be held from Feb 25th-March 4th 2011.. but she couldn't say for sure which one was in which city, but we'd find out with in two weeks. Then like the next day i think we got another e-mail saying which dates were in which city and to confirm which city we were choosing. So i did so, and got my confirmation. My interview date will be in Vancouver, Feb 25th 2011. I'm really excited!!

So keeping yourself distracted is a really good thing to do! It was almost too good. I had the BMO Figure Skating National Championships in Victoria this past week and i offered to volunteer for it. It took up so much time and i was completely warped in that world. I have two major passions/loves in my life always have and always will.. Figure Skating & Disney. It was really interesting watching the two collide this week. I was at the rink when i got the e-mails and i will be very honest, i wasn't excited at all. In fact.. i was texting Michelle on my way home telling her i wont be that bothered if i don't get the position. But recently i was looking at my friends pictures while she's down at Disney World, and it was like a switch. I'm soo excited now!! Too work, to play at the parks, to live in America again. It's going to be a long month until the interviews.. but it will give me lots of time to prepare!
I don't really have much else to say. I guess i'm just really really excited now, and i will have to report again before i leave for the interviews.

Take Care,
Sam
xoxo

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Happy Holidays!

Hey Everyonee!

No big news from Disney currently, but i thought i'd just say Happy Holidays to anyone who's reading this! I've been receiving a few e-mails from Kristen over the week, just asking if i wanted to participate in the e-mail chain, and then i received everyones e-mails. It got me really excited because i remember it last time so well. Wont start sending out e-mails until the new year and when we've got are interview dates! That should be it for now,
So i hope all of you have a fantastic holiday and bring in the new year while having fun! My Christmas and New Years last year were fantastic, and amazing, and couldn't have asked for a better one! Here's to a great year upcoming year!! (hopefully at Disney!)

Take Caree,
xox - Sam

Friday, December 17, 2010

Face to Face Interviews, here i come!

Hey Everyonee!

So, to my surprise.. last night i received an e-mail from Kristen asking me to come to the face to face interviews. I'm totally stoked. I was really on the fence about being put through, but i did.. and now here i am. haha
My interview will be held in Montreal & Vancouver. Obviously i'll be going to Vancouver. I'm exited because it's going to be a reunion time too. Kate, Peever, will be there, Brianna's coming along and i might be able to see Taryn while i'm already over there. I'm really excited. It's going to be so weird going back, but it's going to be amazing all in one. I'm thinking about doing video blogs, but i haven't quite decided if i will or not. But if i do, i'll post a link to where you can watch them.
I don't have much information to say. I got another e-mail from Kristen this morning, asking to be apart of the e-mail list that she sends out so people can get to know their fellow interviewees.

The next waiting part for me will be to see if Michelle makes it as far as i do. We're both hoping to get accepted and arrive together and live together again. It would be heaven. :)
So this is it for now. Two months and a bit until my interviews. I'm sure i'll post a bunch before.

Take Caree
Sam